Today, Foreign Minister Sven Mikser visited the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon where he met the Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Michael Beary and the leaders of the Finnish-Irish battalion, and was introduced the work of UNIFIL peacekeepers.
“Estonia considers it important to contribute to UN peacebuilding activities and has therefore increased its participation in the UN peacekeeping missions in recent years,” Mikser said at the meeting with the Head of Mission. “We will continue to keep the situation in the Middle East at the centre of our attention,” he confirmed.
“South Lebanon is a difficult region and people have to work in tense situations. We commend UNIFIL for maintaining the region’s stability,” Mikser stressed. Major-General Michael Beary thanked Estonia for participating in UNIFIL and expressed hope that Estonia will continue its contribution after 2018.
In the evening, the foreign minister will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia with the Estonians serving in Lebanon.
UNIFIL has almost 11,000 peacekeepers and more than 800 civilian staff. Troops from 41 countries, including Estonia, take part in the mission. Since 2015, up to 50 Estonian servicemen, an infantry platoon and staff officers, serve in the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
Photographs: flic.kr/s/aHsmd7DZha
Additional information:
Sandra Kamilova
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Communication Department
56675362
[email protected]